The present invention provides a water-in-oil emulsion cosmetic that can obtain high ultraviolet protection effects even without substantially blending an ultraviolet scattering agent therein. The water-in-oil emulsion cosmetic of the present invention is characterized by containing (A) 6 to 40% by mass of an ultraviolet absorbing agent； (B) 15% by mass or more of a non-volatile polar oil having ester bonds (except that the (A) ultraviolet absorbing agent is not included)； and (C) 0.5 to 15% by mass of an oil phase thickener. It is particularly preferable for the present invention to further contain (D) a powder having an average particle size of 15 µm or smaller.
